Contextually aware charging of mobile devices

Abstract

A system and method for contextually aware charging of mobile devices. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a base unit having one or more charger coils, for use in inductive charging; and one or more components within the base unit for providing context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities with a mobile device. When a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device, and at the same time the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities are initiated. In accordance with various embodiments, the base unit and/or the mobile device can adapt to a location or use model of interest to provide different functionalities, applications and features.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A mobile device comprising:
 a rechargeable battery,   a wired connector for receiving wired power from a wired charger for charging the rechargeable battery;   an inductive charging receiver circuit electrically coupled to a substantially planar first inductive coil and configured for receiving inductive power from an inductive charger for charging the rechargeable battery; and   a communication and control circuit configured to:
 select a battery charging power between received wired power and received inductive power to charge the rechargeable battery when the received wired power is received through the wired connector while the received inductive power is received through the substantially planar first inductive coil, and 
 electrically couple power from the selected battery charging power to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery. 
   
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the communication and control circuit is further configured to transmit a message to the wired charger or the inductive charger that is not selected as the battery charging power to cause said charger that is not selected to shut off supply of power to the mobile device for charging the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the communication and control circuit is further configured to communicate with the wired charger and the inductive charger, and wherein the selection between the received wired power and the received inductive power is based on a determination based on which of the two received powers can provide faster charging for charging the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the communication and control circuit is further configured to select the received wired power and to transmit a message to the inductive charger to cause the inductive charger to shut off supply of power to the mobile device for charging the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the communication and control circuit comprises a thermal sensor and is further configured to sense an over temperature condition during charging of the rechargeable battery and decouple the battery charging power from the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile device is configured to display a visual signal to notify a user about the over temperature condition. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising a permanent magnet structure for creating a separable magnetic attachment between the mobile device and the inductive charger,
 wherein the permanent magnet structure is positioned around an outer perimeter of the substantially planar first inductive coil to align the substantially planar first inductive coil with a second inductive coil in the inductive charger for inductive power transfer to the mobile device, and   wherein the permanent magnet structure forms a full ring that includes a gap or a partial ring that includes a gap,   wherein the permanent magnet structure comprises one or more arc-shaped permanent magnets, and   wherein the permanent magnet structure is configured such that the mobile device can be rotated across a continuous range of rotational angles with respect to the inductive charger while keeping the alignment between the substantially planar first inductive coil and the second inductive coil during receiving of the inductive power.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising a charge management circuit for charging the rechargeable battery, wherein the charge management circuit is configured to select the battery charging power and couples the power from the selected battery charging power to charge the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising a metal layer substantially coplanar with the substantially planar first inductive coil and positioned outside an outer perimeter of the substantially planar first inductive coil. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising a thermal conductive layer in thermal contact with the substantially planar first inductive coil to conduct heat generated during inductive power transfer. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising an electrically conductive shield layer comprising metal,
 wherein the shield layer is positioned proximate to and substantially parallel to the substantially planar first inductive coil to cover a surface of the substantially planar first inductive coil,   wherein the shield layer comprises multiple substantially concentric metallic rings, with each of the metallic rings comprising multiple sections, wherein radially adjacent sections of the metallic rings are electrically isolated from one another, and   wherein the sections of each of the metallic rings are separated by gaps such that each metallic ring is electrically discontinuous to impede eddy current generation in the metallic rings and the shield layer and to impede heating of the shield layer by the alternating magnetic field during inductive power transfer.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 12 , wherein the shield layer comprises metal of thickness equal to or less than 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a Near Field Communication (NFC) coil separate from the substantially planar first inductive coil positioned substantially parallel to a surface of the mobile device for receiving inductive power, and   a magnetic material having a thickness between 0.2 mm and 1 mm positioned proximate the substantially planar first inductive coil and the NFC coil and facing away from the surface of the mobile device to provide low-loss magnetic field guidance for the substantially planar first inductive coil at an inductive power transfer operating frequency and the NFC coil at an NFC operating frequency.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially planar first inductive coil has an annular spiral shape wherein an inner radius of the substantially planar first inductive coil is 5/26 or more of an outer radius of the substantially planar first inductive coil. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile device comprising:
 a rechargeable battery,   a wired connector for receiving wired power from a wired charger for charging the rechargeable battery;   an inductive charging receiver circuit electrically coupled to a substantially planar first inductive coil and configured for receiving inductive power from an inductive charger for charging the rechargeable battery; and   a communication and control circuit configured to:
 select wired power as a battery charging power when received wired power is received through the wired connector while received inductive power is received through the substantially planar first inductive coil; and 
 electrically couple power from the received wired power to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery. 
   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , wherein the communication and control circuit is further configured to transmit a message to the inductive charger to cause the inductive charger to shut off supply of power to the mobile device for charging the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , wherein the communication and control circuit further comprises a thermal sensor and is further configured to sense an over temperature condition during charging of the rechargeable battery and decouple the wired power from the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 18 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to display a visual signal to notify a user about the over temperature condition. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising a permanent magnet structure for creating a separable magnetic attachment between the mobile device and the inductive charger,
 wherein the permanent magnet structure is positioned around an outer perimeter of the substantially planar first inductive coil to align the substantially planar first inductive coil with a second inductive coil in the inductive charger for inductive power transfer to the mobile device, and   wherein the permanent magnet structure forms a full ring that includes a gap or a partial ring that includes a gap,   wherein the permanent magnet structure comprises one or more arc-shaped permanent magnets, and   wherein the permanent magnet structure is configured such that the mobile device can be rotated across a continuous range of rotational angles with respect to the inductive charger while keeping the alignment between the substantially planar first inductive coil and the second inductive coil during receiving of the inductive power.   
     
     
         21 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising a charge management circuit for charging the rechargeable battery, wherein the charge management circuit is configured to select the wired power as the battery charging power and couples the power from the selected battery charging power to charge the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising a metal layer substantially coplanar with the substantially planar first inductive coil and positioned outside an outer perimeter of the substantially planar first inductive coil. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising a thermal conductive layer in thermal contact with the substantially planar first inductive coil to conduct heat generated during inductive power transfer. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising an electrically conductive shield layer comprising metal,
 wherein the shield layer is positioned proximate to and substantially parallel to the substantially planar first inductive coil to cover a surface of the substantially planar first inductive coil,   wherein the shield layer comprises multiple substantially concentric metallic rings, with each of the metallic rings comprising multiple sections, wherein radially adjacent sections of the metallic rings are electrically isolated from one another, and   wherein the sections of each of the metallic rings are separated by gaps such that each metallic ring is electrically discontinuous to impede eddy current generation in the metallic rings and the shield layer and to impede heating of the shield layer by the alternating magnetic field during inductive power transfer.   
     
     
         25 . The mobile device of  claim 24 , wherein the shield layer comprises metal of thickness equal to or less than 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a Near Field Communication (NFC) coil separate from the substantially planar first inductive coil positioned substantially parallel to a surface of the mobile device for receiving inductive power, and   a magnetic material having a thickness between 0.2 mm and 1 mm positioned proximate the substantially planar first inductive coil and the NFC coil and facing away from the surface of the mobile device to provide low-loss magnetic field guidance for the substantially planar first inductive coil at an inductive power transfer operating frequency and the NFC coil at an NFC operating frequency.   
     
     
         27 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , wherein the substantially planar first inductive coil has an annular spiral shape wherein an inner radius of the substantially planar first inductive coil is 5/26 or more of an outer radius of the substantially planar first inductive coil.